TOP paediatricians at Fairfield Hospital have accused health officials of "misrepresenting their views" when proposals to close the special care baby unit and reduce women's and children's services were put forward.

Although the plans have been withdrawn, eight consultants working at Fairfield children's and maternity unit have written to Mr Neil Goodwin, chief executive of the Strategic Health Authority, to put the record straight.

They spelled out that they did NOT support the proposals, responding to claims that clinicians in Bury were backing the plans as produced by the Children and Young Peoples Network.

The letter, signed by the eight consultants, states: "Our views have been misrepresented. We did not support these proposals.The proposals were seriously flawed, and implementation of the proposals would not have been in the best interests of the children and families we serve."

Dr Umesh Prabhu, consultant paediatrician at Fairfled General, told the Bury Times: "The impression given has been that I supported the proposals as did other clinicians. We wanted to make it clear these proposals as they stood did not have our support."

He added: "I did agree with the broad principles of the proposals in that more community based services should be established for children. But we did not understand why Bury had been chosen to lose services, given that it delivers good quality care and has the lowest mortality rate within the trust. Why should we lose our unit, which is new, for it to be rebuilt within five miles?"

Dr Prabhu confirmed that he, and other colleagues, would be contacting the SHA to become a part of the working party re-examining the proposals.